Welcome to Steve Bell Financial Planning - an independent, Fee-Only financial planning and investment advisory.

Frequently Asked Questions

You know what to expect from us and when to expect it.

Please tell me about the financial planning process
How do you create this blueprint?
Sounds like a lot of work!
Who can benefit from your services?
What is 'Fee-Only' financial planning and why should that be important to me?
I understand the benefits of working with a Fee-Only financial planner, but I might need to obtain financial products. How will I be able to do that?
Does Steve Bell Financial Planning provide only comprehensive financial planning?
My spouse and I are just beginning to build for our financial future. There is so much to learn! We need help and guidance to get started. Will you accept us as clients?
I have already accumulated substantial assets and think I am doing quite well. But as I progress and build for the future, things seem to be getting more complicated. I want to be sure I am on track, but I don't always have the time or inclination to manage the myriad details by myself. Can you help me?
I'm in charge of the retirement plans and employee benefits at my firm. I would like to increase the number of employees who participate in our benefits programs. How can you help us?
What types of securities do you provide advice for?
If I use Steve Bell Financial Planning, to develop a financial plan, am I obligated to purchase the recommended products?
Tell me about your investment philosophy.
How do you select investments for a client?
How do you price your financial planning services?
How much will my financial plan cost?
Is your fee tax deductible?
Once my financial plan is completed, will our relationship end?
How can I get started?

1. Please tell me about the financial planning process. Financial planning is a multi-step process that provides you with two important things: (1) An in-depth review of your current financial situation, and (2) a blueprint that shows you how to achieve your goals and objectives for the future. At Steve Bell Financial Planning, Inc., the financial planning process consists of seven distinct steps (see Our Process). It is important to remember that financial planning is a process . . . not an event.

2. How do you create this blueprint? First we focus on your goals, objectives, priorities and values. For instance: the reduction of current and future income taxes may be an immediate goal, funding a quality education for your children and/or grandchildren may be an intermediate goal, and enjoying a secure financial future in your retirement years is likely to be one of your most important long-term goals. Another great goal in life for some people is creating wealth and/or leaving a legacy for your chosen beneficiaries or charities. You may already be on the road to meeting these objectives and simply need a new strategy, professional insight, or a fine-tuning of your current plan. You may just be starting out or nearing retirement, or you may be somewhere in between. Whatever your unique situation may be, everyone needs a periodic assessment of where they are along the road to meeting their financial goals. That's why we do an in-depth review of your current financial situation. Next, you need to know how you can set about achieving (or continue working toward) your financial goals. As a result of our analysis of your cash flow, investments, taxes, pensions and retirement plans, estate planning, insurance issues, savings opportunities and other general financial matters, we are able to design a customized financial plan for you. Finally, to achieve the intended results, you must implement and monitor your plan. We are can to help you do this as well.

3. Sounds like a lot of work! It may seem like that at first, but the good news is, if you follow your plan and maintain a disciplined approach, you can rest well knowing you can reach your stated goals. At Steve Bell Financial Planning, we try to make the process as easy as possible for you. In addition to receiving professional advice on your most important financial concerns, we can also provide implementation and ongoing asset management checkups, if you so desire.

4. Who can benefit most from your services? Any individual seeking financial peace of mind can benefit from our services. We serve people at all income levels, from all walks of life. Clients have the flexibility to work with us on either a one-time, as-needed basis, or on an ongoing basis. We welcome clients who simply need a one-time financial consultation or a second opinion, as well as those who need comprehensive financial planning and possible ongoing asset monitoring services. In addition, any corporation or organization seeking quality, unbiased financial education for their employees or members can benefit from our financial education programs.

5. What is 'Fee-Only' financial planning and why should that be important to me? Because we are Fee-Only financial planners, all conflicts of interest regarding compensation are removed. We do not accept sales commissions. We work solely for our clients. Because we do not sell financial products such as investments and insurance, there are no third-party relationships or outside influences to color our thinking and financial recommendations. For more information on Fee-Only financial planning, please visit www.NAPFA.org.

In addition, our firm is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA); as such, we must comply with a host of regulations designed to protect the consumer. One important question you should always ask when considering a financial planner's services: ''May I please have a copy of your ADV Part II?'' This document contains important information about the planner's qualifications, fiduciary duties, history of any past violations, etc. Please call us at (925) 960-9562 if you would like to see our ADV Part II.

6. I understand the benefits of working with a Fee-Only financial planner, but I might need to obtain financial products. How will I be able to do that? While we do not sell financial products, we will offer specific recommendations and opinions regarding the purchase of the various financial products that may be appropriate for you. So, if you need to obtain an insurance policy or a new mortgage, invest into a portfolio of mutual funds, or find an estate planning attorney or tax professional, we can direct you to the resources you need and/or help you obtain these products and services. If appropriate, we can also help you implement your plan and set up your accounts.

7. Does Steve Bell Financial Planning provide only comprehensive financial planning? No. Although a comprehensive financial plan can provide the greatest benefits, we can limit our advisory services to your specific needs, such as cash management and budgeting, investment analysis or college education funding.

8. My spouse and I are just beginning to build for our financial future. There is so much to learn! We need help and guidance to get started. Will you accept us as clients? Yes. Some firms have income levels and/or net worth minimums but, at Steve Bell Financial Planning, we realize that everyone has financial needs. We are proud to work with people from all income levels, and all walks of life. Remember, ''You don't have to have a fortune to start building one.'' Call us today and let's get started.

9. I have already accumulated substantial assets and think I am doing quite well. But as I progress and build for the future, things seem to be getting more complicated. I want to be sure I am on track, but I don't always have the time or inclination to manage the myriad of details by myself. Can you help me? Yes. People who need more sophisticated financial planning or advice will find our services appealing and beneficial. If you have a desire to simplify your financial affairs, our Retainer Client Program may be right for you (see Our Process) If you are looking for a professional review or a second opinion to ensure you are on track, we can provide that, too.

10. I'm in charge of the retirement plans and employee benefits at my firm. I would like to increase the number of employees who participate in our benefit programs. How can you help us? Corporate education is key in building employee participation. We can help your employees understand the benefits of your programs. Please call to discuss your specific needs. We can custom-build an educational program for your company.

11. What types of securities do you provide advice for? We provide advice for all types of securities, including mutual funds, stocks (as they relate to your portfolio holdings), bonds, bank deposits, variable and fixed annuities, limited partnerships and tax shelters. We also provide advice on mortgages, budgeting and cash flow issues, 401(k), 403(b) and other retirement programs, stock options, life and disability insurance, etc. If it has to do with money and finances, we can provide counseling, guidance and/or resources for you. Because we want our clients to know that they can call on us with any and all of their financial concerns, we have developed the slogan ''Financial Planning and Advice for Everyday Life.'' Clients are encouraged to call us when they have a major life event, such as a new job, a baby, a marriage or divorce, or if they are planning to buy a new home or start their own business. We also encourage our clients to call us with more common everyday questions, such as: ''How should I invest within my 401(k) or 403(b) plan?'', ''How can I reduce my taxes?'', ''What advice can you offer on refinancing my home?'', or ''How can I maximize my Flex Spending Account, Cafeteria Plan or Section 125 Plan at work?''

12. If I use Steve Bell Financial Planning to develop a financial plan, am I obligated to purchase the recommended products? Absolutely not. We will offer recommendations, which in our professional opinion will meet your needs and objectives, but you are under no obligation to purchase them. In today's competitive market, it makes sense to shop around for the best available product or service. For instance, if you need to obtain a life insurance or disability policy, we will suggest the kind of policy, which riders and what amounts may be best for you. We will then provide you a list of companies that can provide a quality product at competitive prices for you. If you wish, we can help you purchase investments and/or set up your accounts with a third-party custodian such as a discount broker.

13. Tell me about your investment philosophy. The purpose of your investment portfolio is to fund your goals. With your goals as our primary focus, we believe an effective portfolio must consider your needs for income and liquidity, your personal tolerance for risk, your tax situation and inflation.

Our investment philosophy is based on principals stemming from the research of several highly respected economists and academicians. Here are a few or those principals:

Diversification among multiple securities and asset classes can reduce risk without reducing returns
Fixed income securities have generally yielded positive long-term returns after taxes and inflation
Equities have yielded significantly higher long-term returns after taxes and inflation than fixed income securities
Fixed income securities can be used effectively to lower the risk of short term declines in the value of a portfolio
Small-cap and value stocks have yielded greater long-term returns per unit of risk than have large-cap and growth stocks
In a free market millions of intelligent and highly competitive investors make it very unlikely that an individual investor will consistently profit at the expense of all other investors.
Index funds and their equivalents (ETFs and I-Shares) are generally more tax and cost efficient than actively managed funds.

We deploy these principals by recommending a buy-and-hold strategy in a diversified portfolio primarily filled with low cost and tax efficient index funds or their equivalents.

We understand that no one can consistently predict the movements in the market. It is precisely these differences in opinion that make the markets so unpredictable and our buy-and-hold index fund approach so theoretically and statistically sound.

The bottom line is that we believe this approach will increase the likelihood of achieving your long-term financial objectives.

14. How do you select investments for a client? Before we recommend any investment, we consider the current economic conditions, the outlook for that asset class or type of security, and how this investment fits within your portfolio given your objectives and tolerance for risk. For equity investments, we focus primarily on the philosophies, experience and track record of the management team. With fixed income investments, we look for the best yield available for a given quality of security. As fiduciaries for our clients, we strive to obtain the most appropriate investment vehicles to meet your objectives, while being very conscious of total expenses and risk exposure.

15. How do you price your financial planning services? Instead of commissions or a percentage of assets under management, we give each client a 'not-to-exceed' estimate of the cost of their project. Then we charge only for the hours that we expend working on that client's behalf, at one flat rate per hour.

We believe our as needed and hourly advice enhances our fee-only service, and that it is perfectly suited to people from all walks of life because:

We have eliminated all potential conflicts of interest
You can buy as much or as little service as you desire
You know in advance the most you will be charged
You pay the same hourly rate as all other clients

16. How much will my financial plan cost? Financial planning fees are determined on a project by project basis. The total fee for a financial plan will vary from client to client based on the specific needs and complexity of their situation. An estimate is provided during our no-obligation "initial meeting" after your personal needs are fully identified. Once your financial plan is complete, there are two basic levels of client/advisor relationships. See Our Process to learn more about our financial planning sequences and the service options available to you.

17. Is your fee tax deductible? Yes, section 212 of the Internal Revenue Code permits an itemized deduction for tax and/or investment advice in the miscellaneous section of Schedule A. The miscellaneous section of Schedule A is subject to a 2% floor. This means that you will be able to write off our fees to the extent that our fees plus other miscellaneous itemized deductions exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income,

18. Once my financial plan is completed, will our relationship end? Depending on your client track, the actual engagement of services may end (please refer to Our Process), but the majority of our clients choose our Continuing Client Program. Because financial planning is a process, not an event, we offer ongoing services, periodic reviews and day-to-day consultation as requested and/or needed.

19. How can I get started? The first step is an initial inquiry from you. Call us at (925) 413-8463 or email us at info@stevebellfp.com. We offer a no-obligation "initial meeting", either on the phone or in our offices. For intial meetings, appointments are scheduled based on availability during regular business hours of 9-5, Monday through Friday. Expanded office hours may be available to accommodate special needs or emergency situations. Should you decide to engage our services, we can discuss which of our services and client tracks is appropriate for you. Most clients find the financial planning process to be stimulating and enlightening. The end result, of course, is greater peace of mind.

We look forward to helping you build your brighter financial future.